Combining and separating device



Jilly 16,1946. I McL, N 2,404,232

Filed Aug: 25, 1943 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 all I 0/ Q zz/ ZIQ/ awe/M300 -Mfiunifar. V

July 16, 1946. M L. HUNTER 2,404,232

I COMBINING AND SEPARATING' DEVICE Fild Aug. 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 16, 1946. M cL. HUNTER 2,404,232

COMBINING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheei s (g N 21 m Z-MHufiier WM M EELS-E- y 16, 1946- L. MGL. HUNTER 2,404,232 I COMBINiNG A-ND SE I Filed Aug. 25,1943 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g l-Mfiu ier.

y 1946- 2 v LMCL. HUNTER I 7 2,404,232

COMBINING AND IJS'EPARATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1943 5 Shee ts-Sheet 5 I L-MHz'onZ'ef. I

Patented July 16, 1946 2,404,232 COMBINING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Lawrence McLean Hunter, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application August 25, 1943, Serial No. 500,178

This invention relates to conveying mechanisms, and more particularly to a new and improved device for combining bottles from a double row to a single row on bottle conveyors, and vice versa.

In bottling plants and thelike, containers are largely handled by means of chain and link, conveying mechanisms, this being characteristic of modern production line methods. For example, in a large capacity bottling plant, the containers coming from the soaker may be immediately deposited on a moving conveyor which takes them past a point of inspection, leads them to the filler and .crowner, picks the bottles up when they have been filled, carries them past a second point of inspection, and finally deposits the filled containers either on an accumulating table, or into an automatic caser, from which the product passes into channels of trade.

During these operations it is often necessary or desirable to divide a single line of bottles into two lines, or combine a double line into a single line. It is obvious that operations of this type should be conducted on an equal numerical basis, particularly in the case of division, and that the entire procedure must be carried out without jamming or breaking of bottles, scuffing, or other undesirable results.

An object of this invention is to provide means for combining a double row of bottles or the like, into a single row.

Another object is to accomplish this automatically.

Another object is to combine bottlesin an orderly manner without breaking same.

Another object is to effect the foregoing in an efficient and economical manner.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide means for dividing a single row of bottles into a double row.

Another object is to accomplish the foregoing, automatically; and with a minimum of moving parts.

Another object is to provide cheapness of construction in a device of this type.

These and other objects made apparent'during the further progress of this specification are accomplished by means of my bottle handling invention, a full and. complete understanding of which is facilitated by reference to the drawings herein, in which: a Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing my invention as applied to the combining of two lines of bottles;

Fig. 2 is a top View of the structure illustrated 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-31) 2 in Fig. 1, showing bottles moving through the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of certain structure, taken along the line 3-3, of Fig.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 4-4, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view along the'line 5-5, of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec- Referring now to the drawings; Fig. 1, it will be seen that the instant device embraces conventional conveying mechanism constituting links l0 backed with chain-like elements I I which ride on powered sprockets at appropriate points and by virtue of being thereby moved forward provide continuous flat conveying surfaces such as 12, conveyor belts of this type being wellknown to the art. A supporting member I3, along with side members M, assist in positioning the instant conveyor belts in an operable manner; and a frame-like member [5, having a top portion [6, provides anchoring means for a pair of six-pointed star wheels H, which are positioned to either side of the conveyor line,

'A pair of guards I8 facilitates the directing of bottles along a desired course; and adjustable island guide member 19 is positioned at a point adjacent that where the bottles are brought together. Member [9 hasa rudder-like gate and directing element 20. A pair of guide wires 24 facilitate the movement of bottles along the conveyor line, said wires being wound around shaft 2| (Fig.'3),,.fixedlymounted to the top of which is a ratchet gear 22 associated with a dog 23. Relative tension on said wires 24 is thus governed by movement of said shaft and associated gear, turning such clockwise resulting in increased tension, and release of the ratchet having an opposite effect. Since divider member I9 is adjustableon its supporting bed by means of a bolt 25 with associated washer 26 operating along slot 21, it is both necessary and desirable that means be provided for adjusting wires 24, and to be most effective they should Special attention is now called to star wheels 11, such members preferably constituting identical elements fixedly mounted on shafts 28, which shafts'rotate freely in sleeves 29 '(Fig. 6) adjacent their tops andwhich are coupled together at their upper ends by a series of gears 30 (Fig. 2), said gears being positioned to form a train; intermediate .gear members revolving on shafts v31. It will be notedthat preliminary to initially meshing said gears, the star wheels on the shafts below are so turned that an arm a of one registers in a plane approximating one half the distance between two exactly opposite arms of the-adjacent star wheel, the gears then being brought into mesh and effectively securing the star wheels in operative position.

Special attention is now directed to the upper portions of outside gears 39, and the manner-in ternate leaves of blades 33 and being directed to V the left and right thereby. An island member 39 similar in structure to element [9 (with the omission of 2B) facilitates this operation in furnishing a point of division.

' It is thus apparent that the instant invention,

with very slight modifications of structure, may' be employed either to combine bottles moving on the basic'principle of alternate distribution once established, serving. to function with equal facility for either purpose. That is, once the mech-' anism for alternatehandling is set up, it may be employed,- with some few obvious mechanical which they are formed for the purpose of provid ing a small amount of slack or backlash 'in verti cal shafts' iffi. It will be noted that the hubs 30 of said gears are formed with a slightly V slot,

so that theshafts 28', and taper pin30b arefree to move back an d forth, re'lative'to 30, through an angle of a few degrees. This arrangement, provides for a certain amount of flexibility in the operation of thefstarwheels, and tends to reduce scuffing, and other undesirable results likely tobccur in the handling -of glass objects. Actual use has demonstratedthe desirability of this innovation."

f'In operation, bottles moving on conveyor I 2 are directed by guides i8 towards elements It and 20,

whichhjave been "appropriately spaced and the latter tensionied by spring 25. Atthis' pointthe bottles are alternatively delayedand permitted tb gofforwardby' the presence of the arms on star wheel's ii and gate 28, it being apparent that in view of the synchronization of the star wheels as described, above; as respective bottles reach the critical point they either find their path momentarilyb'arred, or opengthe result being that alternatebottles on the twolines are directed into a singleline. It is further apparent that the movingfbottles on'the conveyor themselves operate 7 the star wheel guides, which are not themselves powerejd'but which serve automatically to direct bottles in the mannerdescribed. Gateand guide 'membei 2Q cooperates with thearms of I! in this connection. I 'A'jmodification of the instant invention is disclosedin Figs. '7 and 8, in which bottles from a single conveyor line 32co-ntact two sets of three leaf blades'fiii mounted on shafts 34 operating in sleeve members 35 and having gears 35 fixedly mounted to their topsand meshing with intermediate gears 31 which revolve freely on or with shafts 38, the blades initially being synchronized by 'so meshing t e'gear train at the top'that a given blade will register directly between two op- 1 posite blades'on the other divider'element.

The same arrangement at the tops of shafts 35 in theirc'onnections with gears 36 as described heretofore with reference to the bottle combiner is deemed preferable, the hubs of the gears being formedwith a V slot as at 36a, and pin 361) being free to move, along with shaft 34, in said slot whereby a, certain amount of backlash is permitted' in the shafts. v f j From the foregoing it is believed that the operation of this structure will be obvious, bottles moving'along conveyor belt 32 encountering altions and circumstances within a given plant sugchanges in a given structure, to either combine bottles or separate bottles, depending upon the requirements of a given'operating situation, the direction of movement of the conveyors being the governing factor in securing the desired result.

In some'instances it has been found expedient to increase or decrease the speed of conveyo'r belts to relative to that of 32, operating condigesting optimums in this regard.

If the direction of the conveyors is reversed, and certain appropriate adjustments made, it will be apparent thatthis apparatus is also susceptible to use for the purpose of combining two lines of bottles with a single line. r

It, isfurther apparent of operation.

vice and modification thereof to be employed in the handling of bottles on conveyor lines under conditions which indicate the dividing of two lines into one, and one line into two. My invention is ingenious in its simplicity; functions without attention, and is entirely effective for the intended purpose. r While I have described in some detail certain specific embodiments of the instant invention, I do not intend to be limited thereby, but on the contrary, theappended claims are to be given a scope and construction fairly in keeping with my contribution to the instant art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a

, supporting frame-work, a plurality of shafts rotary mounted thereon, object directing means associated with said shafts, a gear train connecting said shafts, the tops of one or more gears mounted tothe shafts being formedwith a V slot, and a pin engaging the shafts and the slots, whereby relative movement of the gear on the shaft is permitted and scufiing of bottles being handled, reduced or eliminated{ V I v 2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of shafts rotary mounted in oppositely disposed relationship, object handling elements fixedly mounted to the shafts, and means synchronizing the relative movement of said handling elements, said means including gears mounted on the shafts, and means permitting relative movement of said gears on the shafts forthe purpose of providing flexibility when the assembly is operative. Y

LAWRENCEMcLEAN HUNTER.

that the foregoing ar-' rangement is automatic and self -functioning, involvingv a minimum of parts and maximum ease V r 

